Mental health parents information evening 18th september 2014

Time to Talk St Helens St Helens Health Improvement Team Kate Rimmer

What does mental health mean to you?

What is mental health?

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We all have mental health, like we all have physical health

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Mental health is about: – How we feel about ourselves and the people around us.

– Our ability to make and keep friends and relationships.

– Our ability to learn from others and to develop emotionally.

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Good mental health is about: – having the strength to overcome the difficulties and challenges we can all face at times in our lives – to have confidence and self esteem, – to be able to take decisions and to believe in ourselves.

What are mental health problems? •

A mental health problem is something that affects how we think, feel about ourselves and others and how we deal with life

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"Probably the most useful way of understanding recovery is linking it to our own experience because it is something that is common to all of us; it is not specific to mental health problems. Any of us, who have been through a divorce, being made unemployed, a major illness or bereavement, know that that changes us; there is no way to going back to how we were before that event. We have to incorporate that into our way of living and we learn from that and move on with that, which is exactly what we are talking about in terms of recovery from mental health problems. Very importantly, recovery is about taking back control over your own life and your own problems, about not seeing your problems as being uncontrollable, or that their control is just the province of experts. It is about understanding yourself what is possible and what you can do to help yourself.“ Dr Repper- Gonzales Report

The Science of depression

Why is it important to talk about mental health?

• 1 in 10 young people will experience a mental health problem in any one year • 1 in 4 adults are affected in any one year • 9 out of 10 people with mental health problems say they have experienced negative treatment from others • Stigma stops people from seeking help and talking about problems

Talking to your child about mental health • Mental health Problems are really common yet we avoid talking about mental health • Talking about mental health is really important as: – It breaks down taboos – Helps young people look after their own mental health – Reduces stigma around asking for help – Helps them to support their friends

– For advice on how to look after your mental health visit http://www.rethink.org/living-with-mental-illness/young-peo

Starting the conversation • •

You don’t have to be an expert Not knowing or understanding is ok there are lots of places to get information from

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https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/ http://www.youngminds.org.uk/ www.rethink.org/youngpeople

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Being open will almost always help Short chats can make a big difference Time to change provide ten top tops for talking to your child about mental health

Tips for discussing mental health

Dealing with Life's ups and downs • Its normal to sometimes feel worried, anxious or upset at certain times such as – – – – – – – –

Exams Changing schools Going to college Going to university Work and getting a job Growing up and becoming more independent from your family Making up (and breaking up with friends) Divorce/separation

• Its important to understand when children and young people might need to get some help or support with how they are feeling

What to look out for • If someone is experiencing worries, anxieties and difficult feelings to the extent that they are seriously interfering with their everyday life, for instance: – Being able to study and go to school.

– Being able to eat or sleep as they normally do.

– To go out with their friends or take part in their favourite hobby.

• and these feelings are becoming persistent, that is lasting for a few weeks or more, then it might be that they have a mental health problem or disorder and need to get some advice and help.

What to do if you are worried about your child • •

Talk to your G.P Talk to the school nurse – –

Julie Daly @ Rainhill Clinic Tel: 01512892021.

Parents can arrange for an appointment with the school nurse at the school or Rainhill Clinic

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Talk to the school

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Young Minds is the UK’s leading charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. http://www.youngminds.org.uk/ The Young Minds Parents’ Helpline offers free, confidential online and telephone support, Monday to Friday 9.30am-4pm on 0808 802 5544 (free for mobiles and landlines).

Email parents@youngminds.org.uk

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http://www.live-lifewell.net/ www.rethink.org/youngpeople http://www.winstonswish.org.uk/

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http://camhswhoami.co.uk/ http://www.youngminds.org.uk/

Support for children and young people at school •School Nurse drop in sessions- every Monday dinner time •Anti bullying officer- Miss Seddon •Anti bullying Ambassadors/ Peer listeners •Form Tutor/ Teacher/HOY/AHOY/Mrs Munro/Mrs Bradshaw/Miss Fryer

Other support available •ChildLine •Telephone: 0800 1111 Email: http://www.childline.org.uk/Talk/Pages/Email.aspx Website: www.childline.org.uk •ChildLine is a private and confidential service for children and young people up to the age of nineteen. You can contact a ChildLine counsellor for free about anything - no problem is too big or too small.

Useful websites for children and young people •http://camhswhoami.co.uk/ http://www.youngminds.org.uk/ •www.rethink.org/youngpeoplehttp://www.live-lifewell.net/

The stand up kid